Oregon teachers' union opposes Common Core tests

PORTLAND, Ore. — The union for Oregon's 40,000 teachers is asking state schools chief Rob Saxton to cancel next spring's Common Core reading and math tests.

Comment

MailTribune.com

Writer

Posted May. 13, 2014 at 9:30 AM
Updated May 13, 2014 at 12:30 PM

Posted May. 13, 2014 at 9:30 AM
Updated May 13, 2014 at 12:30 PM

» Social News

PORTLAND, Ore. — The union for Oregon's 40,000 teachers is asking state schools chief Rob Saxton to cancel next spring's Common Core reading and math tests.

The Oregon Education Association says the new exams are unproven, too hard and would harm students by making most of them feel like failures.

Saxton agrees the tests will be challenging, but he said Monday he won't consider canceling them because the standards are geared to what Oregon students need to know to succeed in college and on the job.

The Oregonian reports the Oregon Department of Education estimates only 35 percent to 40 percent of Oregon students will pass the new tests the first year.

Oregon adopted the Common Core curriculum in 2010. The standards have been adopted by 44 other states.